TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Three of the four reported cases of suspected food contamination under the Mid Day Meal Scheme implemented during the current academic year got a clean chit from the education ministry, data furnished in the Goa Assembly earlier this week showed.
The education department has pointed out that except for the incident reported at Mallikarjun High School Canacona, the other three incidents reported, showed that there was no contamination and the food was fit for consumption.
The education department in a report to the House details all four incidents where students fell ill after consuming the mid day meals supplied by the respective Self Help Groups.
The first case was reported on June 27 where 86 students of Mallikarjun Vidyalaya, Canacona developed symptoms of illness after consuming the mid day meal supplied by Omkar Self Help Group Kindlem, Canacona.
It says that the samples of food had been collected by the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for chemical analysis. After analyzing the samples it reportedly showed presence of e-coli micro organisms and hence the said food articles were unfit for consumption.
The second incident was reported on July 19, where 20 students of St Joseph’s high school, Usgao developed symptoms of illness after consuming the mid day meal supplied by Shiv Baba SHG.
After FDA analysed the samples, it was reported that the food was of standard quality and free from bacterial contamination and fit for consumption.
The third incident was reported on July 27 wherein 20 students of Kamleshwar High school, Deulwada Korgao, got sick after consuming the mid day meal supplied by Brahmanadacharya Swami SHG.
The samples were analysed by FDA found fit for consumption and free from pathogenic micro organisms of e-coli and salmonella bacteria.
The fourth incident was reported on September 7, 2013 where 23 students of Old Goa Educational Institute developed symptoms of illness after consuming meals supplied by Mahalaxmi SHG.
Chemical analysis by FDA showed that there were no pathogenic micro organisms and was fit for consumption.
The education ministry disclosed that in its efforts to revamp the Mid Day Meal Scheme it has empanelled 143 Self Help Groups. The process for allotting the schools and school clusters to the SHGs is in progress.
